Chesterton Road

Thirsty Cambridge, Chesterton Road, Cambridge

iknoweno , , , , , ,

Another new addition to the Cambridge scene, ‘Thirsty Cambridge’ is a conversion from the old Thresher off-licence. Inside is a large range of wines, as well as beers in cans and bottles. At the back is a dispenser for house wines and for craft beers, four on offer when we visited.
Known as the ‘Growler System’ there is a pleasing ritual involved as the beer travels from some distant container, has the fizz of carbon dioxide added (I think?) and then satisfyingly flows into a solid litre or two litre bottle, its potency barely contained by a Grolsch-type ceramic top. This can then be taken home or enjoyed seated at one of the long tables.

We sampled the Fourpure IPA (4.2%) from London (the name coming from “respecting the four core ingredients used to make beer: grain, yeast, hops and water”) . It was very drinkable but didn’t last long…

Also available was Beavertown ‘Neck Oil’ (4.3%) and I think Yeastie Boys Digital IPA (5.7%) will have to be tried next time. The beer is not cheap here but neither is it over-priced, the service is knowledgeable and friendly and there were plenty of customers passing through. Other distinctive features of Thirsty Cambridge is the availability of ‘Hot Numbers’ coffee and the top-end food vans that park directly outside.

Sited in the Mitcham’s Corner area, already with plenty of pubs, it is certainly offering something a bit different.

The Boathouse, Chesterton Road, Cambridge

iknoweno , , , ,

The Boathouse fortunately survived the recent fire that caused major damage to the adjoining pub The Tivoli and has now fully reopened.

Last Saturday the pub was buzzing: free-of-charge downstairs were four musical acts, mainly acoustic troubadours but also a full electric performance from highly-regarded Cambridge band The Motortapes. There was music upstairs too as this pub has an excellent function room, discretely hidden away but easily accessible and bookable for parties, events or sometimes used as part of multi-venue music festivals. In my experience the arrangement of bookings, food and additional bar provision is all very well organised.

Back in the main pub downstairs it is very much a Greene King standard food and drink venue, with a modernised interior but retaining some interesting features such as ends of boat-race type boats hanging from the ceiling, a small snug room and an excellent stepped terrace down to the river Cam out the back, perfect for early summer evenings. The bar area is quite small but the friendly staff work it efficiently, finding their way around the forest of beer dispensing machinery that seems to grow in height in pubs such as this with every refurbishment. It would not be a prime beer destination pub for me, but in amongst the high-rise high-tech taps was the more traditional and very drinkable Belhaven Grand Slam, a 4% amber beer brewed for six nations rugby watching.

I will continue to visit, especially as they seem to be showing a big commitment to live music.

 

http://www.gkflamegrill.co.uk/locations/boathouse-cambridge